Prophylactic jejunostomy: a reappraisal

The effectiveness of enteral feeding in maintaining postoperative nutrition has led some investigators to recommend prophylactic jejunostomy at the time of any high-risk abdominal operation. A failed procedure in this setting weighs heavily on the side of risk without identifiable benefit.

A benefit/risk analysis comparing complication rate, avoidance of parenteral nutrition, and discontinuation of jejunostomy feeding was performed in 92 patients. These patients were judged retrospectively to be undergoing either a prophylactic jejunostomy placed at the time of operation for another serious condition (group A) or therapeutic jejunostomy alone (group B) during a 3-year period (1993 to 1996). Classification as prophylactic or therapeutic was determined by the surgeon's preoperative intent.

Avoidance of parenteral nutritional support, a goal of prophylactic jejunostomy, was not achieved in 39% of the patients. Patients in group A had a 5-fold increase in the risk of premature discontinuation of enteral feeds when compared with group B (P < .03). The complication rate was higher in group A (41%) than in group B (26%). Four life-threatening complications occurred in group A; all required reversal of the feeding jejunostomy.

This study suggests that the benefit/risk ratio of prophylactic jejunostomy is low. This adds weight to the notion that this procedure be abandoned in favor of other forms of nutritional support.